The joy of celebrating both their similarities and differences is again bringing together dozens of women with diverse spiritual beliefs in Chester County.

The fourth annual Multi-Faith Seder for Women on April 27 is expected to draw more than 100 participants this year, said organizer Elyse Seidner-Joseph of West Chester, the rabbi at Makom Kadosh: the Jewish Fellowship of Chester County, which meets in the Temenos Swedenborgian Retreat Center in West Bradford.

The Seder, a traditional feast which starts the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover, is a symbolic meal representing the ancient Hebrews’ delivery from Egyptian slavery, as told in the Biblical book of Exodus. But this Seder is somewhat different.

“It’s very definitely not a Jewish Seder,” said Seidner-Joseph. “It’s a hybrid.” Women from Islamic, Christian and other religions will be bringing their customs and traditions to share among the group. Following the theme of Exodus, the rabbi said in the planning of the event, “We really tried to use the story of liberation; considering what’s keeping us enslaved emotionally as well as spiritually.

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“There are so many women who drive the story of the Exodus,” she said. “All the women are very strong and that often gets lost.”

In addition to Seidner-Joseph, women involved in the planning included Suhaiba Toomey, of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Sufi Fellowship in Unionville; Sara Bleemer of Kesher Israel congregation and Makom Kadosh; the Rev. Christine Campbell, a multi-faith minister; Dawn Mazzone of Makom Kadosh; the Rev. Dr. Deborah Tanksley-Brown of United Methodist Church of the Open Door in Kennett Square; and Sandra Francis, an anthropology professor whose beliefs span Judaism, Sufism and the Religious Society of Friends.

A tradition that resonates among many of the religions is body washing, forms of which will be incorporated into the event.

During the Jewish Seder, there is a washing of hands. And “in (Islam), they wash before they pray. It’s done in a specific order and the movements of the hands and body are like a small ballet. It’s very beautiful,” Seidner-Joseph said. There will also be a demonstration of the washing of feet, which is part of the Christian tradition emulating Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples.

“It’s very moving to connect to the water ritual of another faith,” she said.

“We’ll actually be doing a number of hands-on and interactive activities,” said Dawn Mazzone of West Chester, one of the event’s organizers. “That includes a wonderful kind of craft activity that women can start at this Seder and carry on for years to come.

“I think that women’s coming together allows us to be more expressive of ourselves.”

Dancing and the screening of a video are also scheduled. There are so many activities planned that there won’t be a formal meal served this year, but there will be vegetarian/Kosher/Halal foods and snacks. Proceeds will benefit The H.O.O.D. or House Of Original Dreams in West Chester, which offers youth classes for academic and work development.

Brenda Goldberg has attended every Women’s Multi-faith Seder since the first in 2011. This year, she is bringing her mother and one of her daughters.

“It has become so popular,” Goldberg said. “More mothers are bringing their mothers, daughters, grandmothers. It’s intergenerational and interdenominational.

“It’s a nice way to celebrate,” the Downingtown resident said. “Most of us are descendents of Abraham – Jews, Muslims and Christians alike.”

Her daughter Nora Goldberg will also be attending this year. The third-year student at Drexel University is pleased to be going with her mother and grandmother and said, “I feel an obligation to reach out, to connect on what makes us different and to celebrate those differences.”

Mazzone offered a paraphrased quote from her Jewish studies that underscores how she feels about the event:

“The healing of the world and the peace of the world will come with people coming together at a Seder.”

-- The fourth annual Women’s Multi-Faith Seder is 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at Milestone Events, 600 East Market St., West Chester. Admission is $10 and must be paid by sending a check made out to cash to Rabbi Elyse Seidner-Joseph, 520 William Ebbs Lane, West Chester PA 19380. Payment must be received by April 24. More information is available at thejfcc.com. Information about The H.O.O.D is available at thehoodonline.org.